After last weekend’s game, it’s hard to get excited for this Monday. The McNairs have trotted out an anemic offense more suited for a kickball game than world class football far too often over the last 5 years.
Brand new offense, same old results.
As many feared, the Houston Texans’ offensive line did not look revamped, repaired or otherwise improved when they faced the Los Angeles Rams in week 1. It’s sort of mind-boggling that Nick Caserio, a GM who cut his teeth in New England – a team known for
always having a good and/or great o-line while he was there – hasn’t fixed this one yet.
In large part due to the sad offensive line performance:
- C.J. Stroud and the seemingly loaded wide receiver room failed to generate 200 air yards.
- If you remove Stroud’s (likely unplanned) 32 yards on the ground, the running attack didn’t eclipse 100 yards.
New offensive coordinator Nick Caley did not have a great debut – or even a good one.
But Monday is a new day – and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers are traveling to NRG to face the Texans on their own turf. In a prime time game no less.
Facing a far less potent opponent than the Rams, the Buccs edged out the Atlanta Falcons 23-20 last Sunday.
Despite putting up 23 points, Tampa Bay’s offense didn’t do much better than Houston’s, statistically.
Does that make this anyone’s game this weekend? We’ll find out in just a few short days.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers Week Two Stats
QB BAKER MAYFIELD had 3 TD passes vs. 0 INTs for 99.3 rating in Week 1, his 6th-straight start with 2+ TD passes. Has 90+ rating in 8 of his past 9 road starts. Aims for his 3rd in row on MNF with 2+ TD passes. Passed for 265 yards & 2 TDs vs. 0 INTs for 119.4 rating in last meeting.
RB BUCKY IRVING had 1st-career TD catch last week. Has TD in 4 of his past 5 road games.
WR RACHAAD WHITE had 119 scrimmage yards (73 rush, 46 rec.) & 2 rush TDs in last meeting.
WR MIKE EVANS has 5+ catches in each of his past 6 & 50+ rec. yards in each of his past 8. Aims for his 3rd in row vs. Hou. with 85+ rec. yards. Has rec. TD in 8 of his 9 career MNF games.
WR EMEKA EGBUKA (rookie) had 2 rec. TDs in NFL debut last week & became 2nd player (Ernest Wilford, 9/12/04) since 1970 with GW rec. TD in final minute of 4th qtr. or OT in 1st career game.
LB LAVONTE DAVID had 9 tackles & TFL last week. Aims for his 3rd in row vs. Hou. with FF & 4th in row vs. Hou. with 10+ tackles. Has 12 TFL in 10 career MNF games.
LB HAASON REDDICK had sack in team debut last week.
LB SIRVOCEA DENNIS tied his career-high with 10 tackles, had career-best 2 TFL & 2nd-career PD in Week 1.
LB YAYA DIABY aims for his 3rd in row on MNF with 2+ TFL.
NT VITA VEA aims for his 3rd in row vs. Hou. with TFL.
DL CALIJAH KANCEY had sack & 3 TFL in last meeting.
CB JAMEL DEAN had 3 PD last week, tied-most in NFL in Week 1.
CB ZYON MCCOLLUM tied his career high with 10 tackles Week 1.
S TYKEE SMITH tied his career high with 11 tackles last week.
S ANTOINE WINFIELD JR. aims for his 4th in row on MNF with 10+ tackles. Had FR in last meeting.
Houston Texans Week Two Stats
QB C.J. STROUD completed 19 of 27 atts. (70.4 pct.) for 188 yards & had 32 rush yards last week. Is 11-5 in 16 career home starts. Set career highs in pass yards (470), TD passes (5) & rating (147.8) in last meeting.
RB NICK CHUBB led team with 60 rush yards last week in Hou. debut. Had 132 scrimmage yards (116 rush, 16 rec.) & rush TD in his last game vs. TB (11/27/22 w/ Cle.) & aims for his 3rd in row vs. TB with 80+ rush yards & rush TD.
WR NICO COLLINS had TD catch in 5 of his 6 home games last season. Had 54 rec. yards & rec. TD in last meeting.
WR CHRISTIAN KIRK can make Hou. debut after spending past 3 seasons (2022-24) with Jax. Had 6 catches for career-high 138 yards & 3 TDs in only career game vs. TB (11/10/19 w/ Ari.).
WR JUSTIN WATSON spent 1st 4 career seasons (2018-21) with TB.
TE DALTON SCHULTZ set career highs in catches (10) & rec. yards (130) & had TD catch in last meeting.
TE CADE STOVER led team with career-high 4 catches in Week 1.
DE DANIELLE HUNTER had 5th-career FR last week. Had 8 sacks in 8 home games last season. Had 2 TFL, sack & PD in his last game vs. TB (9/10/23 w/ Min.).
DE WILL ANDERSON led team with 3 TFL & had sack in Week 1. Aims for his 5th in row with 0.5+ sacks, incl. playoffs. Had sack in last meeting.
DT FOLORUNSO FATUKASI had sack last week.
LB HENRY TO’OTO’O had 6 tackles, sack & PD last week. Had 5+ tackles in each of his 8 home games last season, incl. playoffs. Had FF in last meeting.
LB AZEEZ AL-SHAAIR had 7 tackles & 5th-career FF last week.
CB DEREK STINGLEY had 5 tackles in Week 1. Had 13 PD in 9 home games last season, incl. playoffs. Since 2023, ties for NFL lead with 31 PD.
CB KAMARI LASSITER led team with career-high 9 tackles last week.
S C.J. GARDNER-JOHNSON has INT in 3 of his past 4 vs. TB, incl. playoffs.
This game has the makings 0f another low scoring, defensive struggle. And games like that are usually decided by mistakes and turnovers.
If last week is any indicator of future performance, the Texans will lose this one. H-Town is currently -1 in the turnover category, while Tampa Bay is flat at 0.
But we all know one week doesn’t always indicate the outcome of the next, and hope springs eternal in H-Town.
